Grumpy Old Man

As an artist pent up in a cubicle all day working nimbly on insurance and putting out fires for other people, sometimes a little walk with my camera is needed. Well today was one of those days that aloud for a lunch break and a meander down Pleasant Valley Road. After stopping at the liquor store by the 3 way stop at Bucks Bar Road, you know that intersection next to the creepy house that everyone said was haunted? Yes, fitting for Halloween I thought. Well next to said liquor store is this quaint office looking space that I have never seen occupied but has recently had an address added by the door. Being the photographer that I am and seeing two old lonely barrels I decided that this would be a great senior portrait or engagement session location. 

Until I met the owner of the property. I immediately thought Grumpy Old Men times ten. As he tried to quickly cross the street from the Haunted House at the Intersection he yells at me "What the hell are you doing?" So I replied as I do when I am somewhere shooting and the obvious question is asked, "I am a local photographer and this would make a great location for some portraits. I wanted to document this spot so that I may not forget about it."

The look on this man's face was by far the most evil look that I have seen from a person asking what I am doing. Imagine a 6' 7" or so 300 pound grumpy old man standing in front of you fuming. So I says to this man, "I have no problem in leaving but if you do not tell me that you have a problem and to leave I will continue on about my business of photographing the pretty things of this Earth." 

With that and a few ugly words in my direction I took what he said as "get off my property!" Now I know the truth. The old haunted house at the corner is not so much ghostly haunted as is haunted with negative old close mindedness. I think that I shall make him a print of the pretty little things of this Earth and hand deliver it next week. 

"An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind."

Mahatma Gandhi 

An Interview with Ms. Ubo Herself

By Aaris A. Schroeder

August 9, 2011

In the oversaturated business of photography, one person, Rebecca Knoblauch has been able to get through to the other side and she is not stopping there.

Knoblauch is best known for her involvement as a photographer in the regional hip-hop community however her passion in photography started at a young age capturing stories through images.

“I never wanted to be on the other side of the lens [as an adolescent],” says Knoblauch who is more of a watcher than someone who is looking for attention.

Early images that she has captured are of serine natural beauty.  Finding the beauty in something so simple is Knoblauch’s passion and mission.

It apparently all started with a disposable Polaroid camera and then evolved into a 35 mm camera.  Once Knoblauch was in junior high, it became more than a hobby.  Knoblauch caught a lot of her high school’s sports team on camera and had work published in Union Mine High School’s year book.  Knoblauch graduated in ’03.

Briefly attending Sonoma State during ’03-‘04, Knoblauch spent her free time shooting random photographs with her roommate who was also a photographer. After her educational experience, she moved to Elk Grove and worked for a private photography company who took pictures for schools.

In ’05, Knoblauch jumped into the music scene.  She listened to a lot of different kinds of music but definitely had an ear for hip-hop.  She started shooting Second Saturdays in Sacramento and attending different music events to network and shoot.

In ’07, Knoblauch joined Ultra Mega Collective with DJ 7evin, Rodg from Feva In Da Funk House, Aaris A. Schroeder and Cosie [who doubled as an advertising manager for a local newspaper].  The collective worked together with their skills to produce an issue of UBO Magazine.

Once the collective dissolved, Knoblauch continued to take photographs at live events and also stills for local performer’s press shots. Knoblauch was known as one of the top forerunners in the local entertainment industry along side Amanda Lopez.

Around this time, Knoblauch felt as if she wasn’t getting all that she could from the local music scene and took a step back to analyze her photography business and figure out a way to construct her passion into a fulfilling career.
Now Knoblauch shoots anyone from music to babies and models to brides and grooms.  Her business is growing and she has at least three studios that she works out of.  Her goals are to eventually open a photography gallery that doubles as a place of business to notarize documents.  Knoblauch currently lives in Sacramento and is dreaming big.

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